Joshua Wilson
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Appen Media
July 8th, 2026
Temperatures outside feel like the inside of a toaster oven, and metro Atlanta residents are being urged to take precautions and plan accordingly for the sweltering summer.
Showers and thunderstorms are adding an unpredictable edge to the heat, with downpours and stormy weather predicted from Friday through Monday. For the foreseeable future, highs will be in the low 90s, except for a brief reprieve from rain on Sunday and Monday.
The dog days of summer provide a good time to review heat safety precautions, especially as local hospitals report a rise in heat-related illnesses. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause, according to a report from Emory University, rashes, swelling, muscle cramps, vomiting, dizziness, exhaustion and fainting spells.
Heatstroke, the most severe form of heat illness, is also a possibility if core body temperature rises to 104 degrees or higher. This condition can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles and, if not promptly treated by emergency professionals, can even result in death.
Medical professionals say one telltale sign of heatstroke is altered mental status, such as confusion, but headache, flushed skin, rapid and shallow breathing, and racing heart rate can also be symptoms.
Suspected heat-related illnesses should be treated with a high sense of urgency. Providers urge people experiencing distress — or those near them — to call 911, bring the affected person inside or to a shaded area, remove their excess clothing and take steps to cool them, including placing cold, wet towels on their head and neck.
To prevent these conditions, experts recommend:
- Drinking water regularly, even when you might not be thirsty.
- Avoiding outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours.
- Wearing light-colored, lightweight clothing.
- Seeking shade or air conditioning when possible.
Preventing tragedy
Heatstroke in vehicles is a leading cause of fatalities involving children ages 14 and younger, according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The office advises residents to never leave infants or children unattended in vehicles, even if the windows are open or the engine and air-conditioning system is running.
Officials urge caretakers to place a purse, briefcase or cellphone next to a child’s car seat as a reminder to check the area before locking and leaving the vehicle.
Caring for furry friends
Pets can also experience heat-related illnesses. To combat this, experts recommend walking them during early morning or evening hours. This will also help them avoid burns from hot pavement.
Like children, pets can quickly overheat and succumb to heatstroke if left in an unattended vehicle, so officials urge caution and care.
Checking in on others
Summer conditions can quickly overwhelm at-risk populations, including older adults, infants and children, athletes and women experiencing pregnancy. Residents are urged to check on neighbors, family members and friends during periods of extreme weather. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends twice-daily check-ins through a phone call, text message or a knock at the door. It is also helpful, according to the CDC, to ask a vulnerable person if their air conditioning is functioning properly and if they are drinking enough water. Additionally, a quick check for signs of heat-related illness — heavy sweating, dizziness and confusion — can save a life.
Outdoor workers also face outsized levels of heat risk. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends these precautions while on the job:
- Drink water every 20 minutes.
- Take regular breaks in shade or air-conditioned areas.
- Wear light and breathable clothing.
- Check on co-workers often — and ask them to do the same for you.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion.
- Speak up about unsafe conditions and, if needed, file a confidential complaint with OSHA.
Find relief from the summer heat
Public spaces, including libraries, pools and splash pads, and recreation and senior centers, can also provide a free or low-cost respite from sweltering temperatures. Other facilities, such as shopping malls and movie theaters, also offer cool spaces.
Some local governments, including DeKalb County, have opened cooling centers and offered free pool admission for the duration of this heat wave.
This story was provided by WABE media partner Appen Media.
